Ruffo, the former governor, is now running for senator. With one third of the state’s voters under age 30 and a large number transplants from other states, many Baja California residents don’t remember the days of Ruffomanía — when the PAN’s 1989 victory sparked celebrations in the region and hopes for change across Mexico.

Ruffo considers the voter identification card one of his administration’s greatest achievements. But many voters may not even remember voting without the cards, much less Ruffo’s role in promoting them.

Unlike his early forays into politics as an opposition candidate, he said, “it’s different” today. “Before, it was David against Goliath, and everyone was with David, because they wanted to beat Goliath. Now it’s, ‘What’s going to happen with Mexico? In what direction will it head?’”